mean life: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very LowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “mean life” mean?
The average lifetime of a particle, atom, or unstable entity before it decays or undergoes a transformation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The average lifetime of a particle, atom, or unstable entity before it decays or undergoes a transformation.
In broader contexts, can refer to the statistically average duration of existence for any entity within a population before it ceases to function or exist in its original form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. The term is standardized in the international scientific community.
Connotations
Purely technical and neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Used exclusively within physics, chemistry, nuclear engineering, and related technical fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “mean life” in a Sentence
The mean life of [ENTITY] is [VALUE].Scientists measured the mean life.[ENTITY] has a mean life of [VALUE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mean life” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
American English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
adverb
British English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
American English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
adjective
British English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
American English
- [None. 'Mean life' is a compound noun.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Common in physics, chemistry, and engineering research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used to describe radioactive decay, particle physics, and instability in materials.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mean life”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mean life”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mean life”
- Using 'mean life' to describe the average lifespan of people or animals (use 'life expectancy' or 'average lifespan').
- Confusing 'mean life' with 'half-life' (half-life is the time for half of a sample to decay; mean life is longer, approximately 1.44 times the half-life).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Half-life is the time it takes for half of a sample to decay. Mean life is the average lifetime of a single particle/atom. Mean life is longer, equal to the half-life divided by the natural logarithm of 2 (approximately 1.44 times the half-life).
No, that would be incorrect and confusing. For living organisms, use terms like 'average lifespan', 'life expectancy', or 'longevity'.
It is standard terminology in nuclear physics, particle physics, radiochemistry, nuclear engineering, and any field dealing with radioactive decay or unstable particles.
No, 'mean life' functions exclusively as a compound noun. The related action is 'to decay' or 'to have a mean life of...'.
The average lifetime of a particle, atom, or unstable entity before it decays or undergoes a transformation.
Mean life is usually technical / scientific in register.
Mean life: in British English it is pronounced /miːn laɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /min laɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'mean' as in 'average' (like the mathematical mean) and 'life' as in 'lifetime'. So, it's the AVERAGE LIFETIME before something decays.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY; INSTABILITY IS A TIMER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'mean life' in a technical context?